Joe Girardi‘s lineup was set up in a funky way as the Yanks prepare to face Chris Sale and the White Sox: He has every right handed switch hitter in the lineup and chose to sit Brett Gardner and Ichiro Suzuki. Now, that seems pretty odd, not having a left handed hitter in the lineup, right? There’s a reason for that.

Chris Sale has not allowed a hit to a left handed batter all season, which is the reason why Gardner and Ichiro have been benched tonight. Now, I understand Girardi’s logic, but if I could play manager for one moment: Brett Gardner has a .304 overall batting average, a .373 AVG vs. LHP, Ichiro has a .359 overall batting average and a .450 AVG against LHP this season. Why sit two players that have great numbers hitting left handed? I believe their bad numbers against Chris Sale can’t hold a candle to what they’ve both done this season. They’ve both obviously exceeded expectations, and have proven they’re viable assets to the Yankees ball club.

Well, at least the Yankees can use both Gardner and Ichiro off the bench should the need arise, which I have a feeling there will be a need.

Some Notes

— If you’re wondering if Derek Jeter will manage after he retires from baseball, you’re not going to like his answer. “No, write this down. No.” So, I think that kind of ends this debate.

— Joe Girardi was asked if he had kept contact with Alex Rodriguez, who is currently serving a 2014 season suspension and Girardi said he wasn’t going to say. Smart move, no need to open a can of worms.

— — Here’s today’s “Stat Pack” notes!

1) : Yankees starters are 5-2 with a 2.92 ERA (86.1IP, 28ER) in the club’s last 15 games since 5/5, allowing 1ER or fewer in eight of those games and 2ER or fewer in 10 of them…marks the third-lowest ERA (Oakland-2.39, and Los Angeles-AL-2.73) in the Majors in that span.

2) SS Derek Jeter is batting a combined .388 (19-for-49) with 2 doubles, 1HR, 3RBI, 1HP and a .400 OBP within the first two pitches of at-bats (hitting with 0-0, 1-0 or 0-1
counts)… on all other counts is batting a combined .208 (21-for-101) with 2 doubles, 0HR, 5RBI, 13BB, 1HP and a .304 OBP.

3) The Yankees used 21 of 25 active players in Wednesday’s 4-2, 13-inning win at Chicago-NL… all players aside from the other starting pitchers were used (Phelps, Kuroda, Nuno and Tanaka)… marked the most players the Yankees have used in a game prior to Sept. 1 since a 12-9, 11-inning loss in Game 2 of a doubleheader on 8/9/70 vs. Baltimore… marked the most Yankees used in a game since a 10-9, 14-inning win on 9/22/12 vs. Oakland (26 players used).